SOUL OF A MAN

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

 

SOUL OF A MAN

From the above parable we learn that very few can resist the irresistible desire to be absorbed in the Lord, THE Abode of Bliss. He who can come down from the glorious height is called an incarnation of God. All great men of the world who are regarded as incarnation of God by different nations are men of the above description. They never care for their own enjoyment. Such great souls alone are qualified to do good to the world. They do not work out of necessity or compulsion like the ordinary man of the world. They work out of unselfish love for humanity that is why the infinite and unmanifested Lord of the whole Universe is more appreciated worshipped and loved in these manifested aspects of His. Men have erected countless temples, shrines , pagodas and churches in honour of these God men, to whom they will have to remain eternity indebted for the immeasurable good they have done, undergoing all sorts of miseries inflicted upon them by those very ungrateful people for where good alone they lived labourd and died.

 

After having had a clear conception of the higher and lower regions in both their outer and inner aspects, the seers of old were able to achieve the grandest victory over death, ignorance and misery, by realizing the Schchidanada.

 

Existence, knowledge and Bliss Absolute .

 

By God we means these three highest perfection, eternal Existence, infinite knowledge and undying Bliss. Your struggle will never come to an end for lives and lives together, until you realize these. The seers of old were able to know their infinite Self by the irresistible strength of their will, you also can succeed in the same manner if you have as strong a will as they had. What has been done once may be done several times over.

 

Says the Sruti. If you know the highest truth in this life then you shall really live. But it in this life you do not know it, great shall be the number of deaths you shall have to fall a prey to May the grace of the Lord  enable you to realize the Truth in this life!

 

“Life is a game, play it!” I don’t’ know who said it first, but many thought leaders have echoed this profound statement. I draw it from one of the messages of Sri Sathya Sai Baba who has inspired me in playing my game of life.

 

How can you compare life with a game? A game is a formally arranged sport, indoor or outdoor, between two persons (chess), or amongst several competitors (track events), or amongst teams (cricket, football, etc.). In life also, you must play the game of competition individually or in groups to achieve a degree, qualification, employment, promotion, name and fame encountering success and failure. In a sports game, you can choose to be a player, observer, coach, mentor, umpire, or sponsor. In the game of life also, you play different roles according to your goals, as you move from childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood and elderly person, until the last breath, when the game is over.

 

The most important things in a game are the ‘Rules of the game’ which are crucial to decide win or lose. Rules are laid down in detail in a transparent manner, which should be followed by every player. However, within the rules, the players can play different strokes to showcase their best performance. A game usually involves a game plan or a strategy, guided by the coach. The umpire’s decision is final. In many games, there is a referee or second umpire who agrees (or disagrees) with the verdict. In cricket, you have a third umpire, a video camera, which helps in verifying the decision based on evidence.

 

In the game of life too, you have to follow certain rules and regulations, starting with civic duties, casting votes, paying tax, following traffic rules, or obtaining licenses and permits. Every game of life, whether it is acquiring a degree or winning an election is fought with successes and failures, owing to hard work or at times luck. Here, the umpires are the authorities, examiners, supervisors, bosses, those in power, or even the public. The second umpires are the referees, external examiners or appellant authorities, who are appointed to ensure that the rules of the game are followed. The third umpire, especially in case of litigation, is the judiciary or court which considers the strength of evidence to declare the winner.

 

There are two differences between games in sports and games of life. In the game of life, you are compelled to play different roles. As a family member, you must play husband, wife, brother, sister, father, mother, so on and so forth. You can’t deny a particular role.

 

Secondly, in life, the rules of the game change! They change from time to time and place to place. They are unpredictable. You need to plan your moves according to the expectations of others and your ability, keeping in mind the circumstances.

 

The rules of the game in life are ultimately bound by Dharma, which is nothing but duty and code of conduct. Our ancient scriptures declare that if you hold on to Dharma, Dharma will protect you (Dharmo rakshati, rakhatah). One is always expected to cherish fundamental values like Truth (Sathya), Right Conduct (Dharma), Peace (Shanti) and Love (Prema) irrespective of whether the game is tough or not. However, the application of rules of Dharma is a tricky issue because it involves exercising one’s discretion of ‘right and wrong’ which leads to an ethical dilemma. For example, if someone assaults your loved one in public, would you like to walk away silently forgiving the misbehavior, or take some immediate action whatever best is possible under the circumstance? The final verdict should come from your inner voice which is beyond court evidence. This brings us to the role of the fourth umpire in the game of life. You may call this fourth umpire as Almighty God or your inner voice which ultimately decides whether you have won or lost.

 

 

Life is a game, play it!

Balachandra Adkoli in BV Lens, India, Spirituality, TOI

How to win the game of life?

 

First and foremost, understand and follow the rules of the game or Dharma. Be committed to good principles of life, which translate to good living. Hold on to universal values. Inculcate a healthy lifestyle by following good eating habits (Aahar), exercise – physical and mental (Vihar), positive thinking (Vichar) and service (Seva) beyond self (Aachar). Techniques like yoga and meditation are useful to overcome stress and resolve conflicts. Self-management techniques, including management of time and stress, are now available in plenty.

 

Secondly, work with a good coach and a mentor. The coach will hone your technical skills and competence. But you need a mentor who will guide, motivate, handhold and help you to self-actualize your potentiality. In addition to mentor and coach, you need support from your colleagues and collaborators who will serve as a ‘community of practice’ and share their experiences to ensure your growth. When you are stuck up, they can be the game changers! Their constant feedback and constructive criticism can help you to overcome endless hurdles between you and your winning stroke. Thirdly, learn to manage your success as well as your failure. No one can win all games in a row. Failure is just a stepping stone to success. Sometimes you need to take one step back to move two steps forward. Reflect on your failure, meditate upon it, change your game plan and bounce back with resilience. Don’t get attached to the results, win or lose. Just move forward. This is the essence of the Bhagawad Gita.

 

Fourthly, don’t shy away from setting high goals that are aimed at the public good. The highest ‘Olympic medal’ in the game of life is decided by the fourth umpire, your inner voice, and not necessarily the medals and awards which are usually bagged by a handful of people in a competitive world. So life is a different ball game, play it differently

 

 

IF HE EXIST

 I drive joy there was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting 7 precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the IN WBBL Harmanpreet no 7 got player of the Seires, and in final no Kepp7 of perth won player of the math.